Modeste talks up Grenada's chances against Jamaica

Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sports

SAINTE-LUCE, Martinique:

GRENADA'S Spice Boyz will be looking to turn the tables on Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, in the teams' Digicel Caribbean Cup semi-finals showdown at the Pierre Aliker, Dillon Stadium, here tomorrow, beginning at 8:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Jamaica time).

"We know Jamaica are a quality team, but we are on a mission," said Anthony Modeste, the Grenadian captain. "We want to win the championship and if going through Jamaica will enable us to win the championship, well, so be it."

In the tournament's last final, Jamaica turned back Grenada 2-1 at the National Stadium in Kingston, to lift their fourth title. Now, though, Modeste thinks his team has matured and that will make the difference.

"The players are much more seasoned now for sure. We have a few professionals in our ranks who have come and lent their experience to the team. The team is very, very confident, we think we can beat anybody ... once we go into the game with that confidence," he stated.

Strike force

"We saw Jamaica play their last game. We know their strike force, we know their quality, but we still think we have the people who can go out there and get the victory," he added.

Jamaica, winners of Group I, confirmed their semi-final qualification with a 2-0 victory in the matchup to which Modeste refers, while Grenada wrapped up second place in Group H with a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night against Cuba. The Cubans topped their group with seven points.

Modeste, who is quite familiar with the Jamaica players, having played in the Digicel Premier League, observed that they have been close on a few occasions and are really hungry for the championship this time.

" ... We really want to win. We've been to two semi-finals and we've been to two finals - in 1989 we came second to Trinidad; we came second to Jamaica last year and we really want to make it and lift the trophy," he added.

Qualification for the semi-finals has also brought with it advancement to the CONCACAF Gold Cup that will be staged in the United States next year, as the top four in the DCC are guaranteed spots.

Modeste expressed joy with such progress, noting the benefits it could bring to the general development of Grenada's football.

"It does a lot, it's our main goal, firstly, coming here and it will give the younger players the opportunity to be seen on the world stage," said Modeste. "We want to get players on the outside like the Jamaicans and the Trinidadians, because that would help Grenadian football grow."